Portable golf greens speed meter

ABSTRACT

This device presented here is a portable, collapsible greens speed measuring instrument to aid golfers in putting. It has been difficult for golfers to have accurate readings of the putting green speed since most golf courses do not evaluate their greens. This invention will do this for the golfer. The device is inexpensive, light, convenient, and easy to use, which is in sharp contrast to the stimpmeter used today in professional circles. This device folds into a small size, approximately 8 inches, in contrtast the the stimpmeter used now which is about 30 inches. The presently used device is expensive and is not collapsible. It is difficult to use and unavailable at most golf courses. It is for these reasons there is a strong need for a portable greens speed meter presented here for the average or the professional golfer.

BACKGROUND

[0001] In the game of golf, putting the ball on the green is of utmost importance. It can account for half of the score and therefore can easily win or lose the game for you. The fewer strokes it takes to get the ball into the hole, determines the winner. After the golf ball is driven off the tee it then goes onto the fairway, or maybe onto the putting green, the ball is stroked until it reaches the green surface. Again the ball is stroked until it goes into the hole. Each stroke here counts the same as a stroke, the 240 yard drive, the 150 fairway shot, and the putt which may be 3 feet. The golfer must be able to know how firmly to strike the ball to accelerate the ball to the hole and yet not go past the hole. If the ball passes over or beyond the hole it may take one or more strokes to get it back and into the hole. If it does not reach the hole, it cannot go into the hole. It is imperative for the golfer to have the knowledge to be able to tell how fast the ball will travel on this surface at this time.

[0002] The surface of the green can slow down the speed of the ball or allow it to roll very fast over it's surface. The surface is affected by a number of factors. On a level surface the height of the grass, moisture, cut of the grass, fertilization, temperature, wind velocity, type of grass, and other factors will affect how fast or slow the ball travels over the surface. The speed of the green can change hourly, making it even more difficult to evaluate. This invention was developed to help the golfer evaluate this surface speed easily.

[0003] In 1937, Mr. Edward Stimpson invented an instrument he called a stimpmeter. This instrument was and still is used as the standard for evaluating the greens speed. It does an excellent job and is used by the professionals on most all the tournaments. The greenskeepers of the golf club rate the greens and give each one a score. The stimpmeter can be purchased from England for 52 pounds. This is approximately $81 to $120 depending on the pound value at the time. The stimpmeter can also be purchased through some places in the United States but they are not routinely sold by many stores here. The stimpmeter is a long V-shaped aluminum rod that has a trigger at the top for release of the golf ball. The bar or rod end is laid on the ground and the loading end held up to make a 20 degree angle with the ground. The ball is then placed on the top of the trough and then released by the use of the trigger. The ball then rolls down the trough and onto the putting surface. The ball will travel as far as the green will allow and this distance is measured. The distance it travels is then compared with a standard chart which indicates what the rating will then be on this green. As an example, if the ball travels 5 feet on the putting surface, the rating may be 0-4 feet=slow, 4-6 feet=medium and 6-8 feet fast, then the rating would be medium speed. However, there is usually more specificity to the rating and the 5 foot distance may be considered a slow-medium, or just the number 5. The professionals usually have the number figure for the ratings provided to them. Therefore, if the ball rolls 11 feet, then the rating for that green is 11.

[0004] Most golf courses in the United States do not rate or grade the greens. This is for a number of reasons. One main reason is the personel needed to grade or rate the green. It is time consuming and requires some knowledge of the usage of the stimpmeter. It requires the purchase of the stimpmeter which is somewhat expensive. The rating of the green can change daily and if not read recently can give the golfer false information. This could anger the golfer if he is given erroneous information, and makes a poor putt based on the rating given to him.

[0005] The invention presented here is a new collapsible, portable, simple, golf greens speed meter which can be used by the amateur golfer or the professional. It is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to use. It requires no expertise to use and is very accurate. It can be easily placed in, or on, the golfer's bag or into his pocket. It will give the golfer the information he needs on the putting surface of the green.

SUMMARY

[0006] There is a need for a greens speed meter to determine the speed of each green the golfer is putting on. The stimpmeter is large bulky and difficult to use. It is available for the professional golfer mainly and the average golfer never gets to have usage of it. Presented here is a device which can be purchased by the amateur golfer and used whenever he needs it. He can use it when the golf course attendants do not want to grade the greens or are unavailable to grade the green. The collapsible, portable greens meter presented here gives a very accurate reading of the green and in fact may be more accurate than the stimpmeter which is the standard. It differs from the stimpmeter also in that it is easily placed in the golfer's pocket or his golf bag. It also sits on the ground and is more stable than the stimpmeter. The angle is about 30 degrees incline for the ball route while the stimpmeter is 20 degrees. It will be made of plastic, although it could be made of aluminum or wood, and will be less expensive to the golfer. The golfer, even working with this device, will familiarize himself with the greens speeds and how to make a more accurate putt. The golfer will also know the evaluation is accurate and taken at his direction and at the time the putting is to be done.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a lateral view of the invention in the performing position

[0008]FIG. 2 indicates a side view of the speed meter in the functioning position and demonstrates it's locking position.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a view of the partially closed position.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows the base portrion of the device to indicate how it contains and holds the rails for the ball ramp.

[0011]FIG. 5 shows the guide rails for the ball in a closed position.

[0012]FIG. 6 shows the closed position of the rails with a top cover and hinge on the top of the bottom rail giving it the top position when extended.

[0013]FIG. 7 shows the opening position of the closed top rail design.

[0014]FIG. 8 shows the base stand and the detents which show how it can lock the rail in the correct position.

[0015]FIG. 9 shows the rail with concave indentions and how they fit into the convex ribs of the baseplate.

[0016]FIG. 10 shows how the connecting puzzle of the rails snap together with the bottom hinges closing the parts together.

[0017]FIG. 11 this group of sketches shows how a bottom hinge and a top hinge can extend the rails. Both positions of the hinges accomplish the same purpose. The positions are different in that they change the position of the rails in the closed position in the base piece. They are each extended in a different method in which the lower hinge extends the rail from “inside out”, the top hinge extends it's rail from “outside out” from their closed positions.

[0018]FIG. 12 shows another design in which the speed meter could be done. This shows a telescoping method in which the rails are collapsed inside each other.

[0019]FIG. 13 indicates the receiving rail for the telescoping rail.

[0020]FIG. 14 reveals a top bview of the design #3 shows the same design as #1 but has a different rail locking mechanism on the bottom.

[0021]FIG. 15 shows the lateral view of the invention with the locked apparatus in place.

[0022]FIG. 16 shows another design available for the portable speed meter. This method works just as a carpender's rule does in it collapses in a folded position as it is here.

[0023]FIG. 17 shows the carpender's rule design, top view, with it in the extended and in the working position.

[0024]FIG. 18 shows the partially open position of the carpender's rule design.

[0025]FIG. 19 shows the carpender's rule design in the extended and working position in the side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] This invention presented here is a simple collapsible device for the measurement of the speed a ball will travel across an area of turf. It is not complicated and it's design will be described in detail. It can be accomplished in more than one way and described here are some of the methods I have devised to do this feat. In FIG. 1 the portable greens speed meter is seen in the side view and a base stand FIG. 1A present, with the extended rails 1B in position for the ball to be passed down the rails for the speed check. The device has hinges at FIGS. 1C and E indicators which allow the folding and collapsed position to be accomplished. So the rails will stay in the extended position, the locking position is accomplished by the use of a plastic snap lock D design. The plastic design allows the ends to snap together snugly which will hold that position until manually broken loose and disconnected. In FIG. 2 again the working position of the invention is presented with the golf ball 2D in place. The rails connected together by the underlying hinge FIG. 2C and the plastic snap connection, 2E, is seen. The FIG. 3 indicates how the rails, FIGS. 3B and 3E, break loose and fold into the jack-knife position and finally the “handle” or stand FIG. 3A. for the final closure position. The base or stand portion FIG. 4A is mainly a holder for the device in the working position and allows the rails collapse inside itself in the non-functioning postion. The rails are attached to the base piece the attaching bolts, 4B, and this allows the rails to swing out or into the base piece. There are detents or surface bulges 4C on the inner surface of the base piece, which lock into channels or indentions on the rails FIG. 5C which allow the pieces to maintain certain positions. These would be to hold the rails, 5E, in the base piece in the closed position and in the locked extended postion. In FIG. 5 the rails are located in the folded position with the hinge, 5D, in the bottom position making the bottom rail move down and out to the extended position and lock in place with the snap connection 5B. With the hinge, 6B, in the top position FIG. 6B the top rail will necessarily move up and out with detents 6E and 6D connecting at the bottom when extended. FIG. 7 shows a partially extended top rail, 7B, passing over and out to the extended locked position. In the FIG. 8A the base stand is upright and in the working position the convex detents, 8B, are seen on the inner surface of the stand. The corresponding indentions in FIG. 9 are noted to align the rails, 9A, in the correct position for the speed meter to give a correct reading of the green speed.

[0027] Located in FIG. 10 is a close-up of the snap connections 10D and C located on rails 10A and 10B and these indicate how the connection can hold the rails together along with the hinge, 10E, on the opposite end of the rail.

[0028]FIG. 11 shows 8 drawings which indicate the positions of the hinge positions for the device. The top four sketches show the hinge position located on the lower side of the rails in the extended position. The closed position is the initial figure and marked by A in this sketch. The partial position reveals the beginning of the opening of the rails to the extended position and the bottom rail coming from the back position in the stand or base piece. The third sketch shows further extension of the rails and the fourth shows the full extension and again the detent connection, 11E, holding the rails in that position. The lower four sketches show the closed, partial opening (rails just out of the base piece), then almost full extension with again the hinge located on the top position, D, of the rails and the full locked position with the detents connected, 10E.

[0029] Other designs are presented showing the collapsible greens speed meter made in different ways. These are all made of plastic, aluminum, or other metals, or wood or (wood products). The object is accomplished in all the presented methods, by making a collapsible, portable, convenient, simple speed meter inexpensively and efficiently.

[0030] Noted in FIG. 12, is the telescoping ramp or chute for the one rail to be pulled out of the second rail as you would do a telescope. The extended rail in 12A will slide laterally or expand when pulled out of it's position inside the first rail by the action of the springs 12E and 12F and will be stabilized by the bar guides 12C and 12D. The bar guide 12D has stops, on the ends, to prevent excessive expansion. There are bars at 12H which fit into the slots the main rails bar guides 12B slide when in the compressed position inside the first rail. This allows the second set of rails to line up perfectly with the first and provide a smooth surface for the ball to traverse. The bar at 12H stabilizes the extended bar and has a protruding stop lock to keep the rail from being pulled completely out of the first rail. When the ball speed rating is completed with the meter, the extended rail is squeezed together, and slid back into the proximal rail and the two rails are folded into the base stand which has the design presented in design #1.

[0031] In FIG. 13 the proximal rail is seen with the receiving slots 13B present and the stop opening at 13D. The rails ramps or channel rails, 13A, do not move and are stationary. Detents at 13E are for the correct position and alignment when opened and 13F are the connecting holes for the stand and/or handle.

[0032] In the FIG. 14 is shown another locking device for the design #1. The design is essentially the same except the hinge 14D could be on the side and the lock 14E for the extended rail is a different design using a push button mechanism. The extended rail is locked into place much like a door locks when closing a house door. The push button releases the lock when depressed and the rail is collapsed and folded back into the handle or base piece. FIG. 15 is the lateral view showing the push button 15E releasing rail 15C from 15B.

[0033] Another design which would accomplish the portable, collapsible position is the carpender's rule design. This design is similiar to the carpender's measuring rule which he carries in his pocket. It folds up in the same way and when closed as in 16A even looks like a carpender's rule. This design has a base which is a solid piece 16B which gives the speed meter a stronger base for the standing position of the meter. The rails when extended here however as in FIG. 17 are slightly different widths. The ball still travels down the rails well even though there is a slightly different sizing of the extended rail. FIG. 18 again shows the partially extended position of the rails 18B and 18C from the base piece 18A. At FIG. 19 the carpender's rule design is fully extended. The hinges at 19D and 19E have detents in their hinge which are similiar to the ones used in the design #1 allowing for correct extension alignment. 

I claim:
 1. A collapsible measuring device used on the golf greens, and elsewhere, to determine the speed a golf ball will travel on that surface.
 2. A device which is lightweight, made of plastic, metal, or wood that is easy to understand and use.
 3. A golf ball speed measuring device that uses detents, hinges, springs, or sliding mechanisms to make it collapsible and also accurate 